This pioneer duo focuses on exploring the bass clarinet’s huge tonal range and the enchanting sound of the Hang. Having formed in 2006, ‘Living Room’ have toured in more than 20 countries all over the world.

Whilst continuously pushing the boundaries within a variety of musical styles, their unusual pairing of instruments creates a highly unique texture of sounds. The first-ever Bass Clarinet - Hang - duo approaches their fresh take on chamber music without any confinements or restrictions, performing original compositions as well as creative arrangements of popular music, by artists such as Nirvana and The Beatles. 
Their shows are full of surprise and chance, often having left audiences wonderstruck, bewildered and bemused.
 
„…an oasis… lovely and genuinely creative music…“
(The Herald, Edinburgh)

MANU DELAGO HANDMADE

With its holistic and euphonic sound, the Hang is often referred to as a „gift from heaven.“ This melodic Swiss percussion instrument has captured the interest of artists and listeners alike around the world. How the Hang received its name, meaning „Hand“ in the local Bernese language, is evident as you watch talented artists play by hand some of the most impressive and diverse music on Earth. One such talented artist is Austrian musician and composer Manu Delago.

The young „Hang virtuoso“ has led a musically versatile life. At the age of two years old, he began what would become a very musically inclined life as he sat behind his first drumkit. Four years later, he took accordeon lessons. Then, by age ten, he learned to play the piano. In the years that followed, he experimented with several different instruments. It was soon evident where Delago's musical excellence prevailled, as he became one of the leading percussionists in his area. As a mainly Rock influenced 14-year old, he played the drums for different bands and influenced them in his own way. In the genres of Jazz, Pop and World music, he discovered his creativity, writing his own compositions. Such pieces were performed at the Klangspuren Festival in 2004. He has also played in numerous concerts with bands including HotchPotch (Austrian Band Contest winner in 2003), Starmania's Michael Tschuggnall and Zabine.

The positive feedback on his first solo Hang album, „Made in Silence“ encouraged Delago to create his own live-band „Manu Delago Handmade“. In addition to hovering and ethereal sounds, this acoustic project provides elements of smooth Jazz, Classical Chamber music and groovy Drum n' Bass... Handmade!

Living Room in London is a unique group made up of five exceptionally eclectic musicians. The ‘master hang drummer‘ Manu Delago and 2007 ‘Jazz newcomer of the year‘ award winning clarinetist/saxophonist Christoph Pepe Auer join forces with three outstanding string players Ellie Fagg, Tom Norris and Gregor Riddell.
 
All members compose original material for the group and arrange a versatile mix of works incorporating genres from jazz standards, classical masterpieces to pop songs. They have toured internationally, recorded original material and in august 2009 returned from a run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with critical acclaim.
 
Edinburgh Fringe Reviews august 2009:

„...the most intriguing musical fusion I‘ve heard in Edinburgh...“
(Richard Morrison, The Times)

„...a strikingly fresh, beautifully tempered chamber group... with a wide remit... bold original writing from the musicians themselves... utterly absorbing...“ (Rob Adams, The Herald)

„I‘ve never heard anything quite like this...“ (Tam Pollard, Cygnet Theatre)

2009
• Concerts in the U.S., Canada, China, Greece, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, UK, Romania, Hungary, France & Norway

2008
• Concerts in Venezuela, Russia, Poland, Greece, Spain, Austria, Germany, Ireland, UK & United Arab Emirates
• Album release of 'Adventions' with 12 guest musicians (Georg Breinschmid, Albin Janoska, Tom Norris, Wolfgang Puschnig...)
• Further recordings and concerts with Shpongle, Boris Grebenshikov, Living Room in London (with string players from the LSO)
• Graduate from the Guildhall School of Music in London with 'Master of Music' in Jazz drums

2007
• Album release and concerts with the first bass clarinet - hang - duo in the world 'Living Room'
• Album release of 'Manu Delago Handmade' and cd sales and more than 20 countries
• Graduate from University Mozarteum Innsbruck (Austria) with 'Bachelor of Arts' in Classical Percussion

2006
• Gigs & concerts with 29 different bands & projects
• Release of the first Hang-solo-album „made in silence” with the guest musicians Christoph Pepe Auer and Alex Mayer
• debut concert of the live-band-project „Manu Delago Handmade”
• musical works with Zabine, HotchPotch, Jazzwerkstatt Wien, Toni Knittel, The next step feat. Jarrod Cagwin,…

2005
• more than 100 gigs with different bands and as a solo artist in Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria

2004
• TV-Shows and studio recordings with HotchPotch and Michael Tschuggnall;
• Premier of the composition „Hangarian Goal“ as Hang-soloist with the ensemble „The next Step“ at the Klangspuren Festival in Innsbruck

2003
• Tour with Austrian Pop Idol winner „Michael Tschuggnall“;
• 1st price at the Austrian Band Contest 2003 with „HotchPotch“;
• Marimba-Solo-Concert with the „Stadtmusikkapelle Landeck Perjen“;

2001
• Concerts with „The Rückwärts-Gäng“, „The New Fun Generation“ and projects like the „G2K-Band“ or the „Fire&Ice-Brassorchestra“;
• first own album-releases with „The Rückwärts-Gäng“ and „HotchPotch“;

2000
• 1st price at the Tyrolian Jazz- and Popularmusic Contest with „Rampage

1999
• first concert with „Somersault“ in Mieming;
• new year's eve millenium concert with „Combo Delago“ (band of my father Hermann Delago);
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